Dynamically building locale objects at run-time

ABSTRACT

Locale objects are dynamically built from locale source files when requested at run-time. When a locale object is dynamically built, it is stored in global memory so it may be read by multiple applications. Dynamically building locale objects when requested allows software to operate with a relatively small number of locale objects instead of with hundreds or thousands of locale objects, as is known in the art. The result is significant savings in system-wide resources while still allowing for access to a large number of possible locales.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This disclosure generally relates to computer systems, and more specifically relates to locale objects that support software used in different languages and cultures.

2. Background Art

For computer software to be useful it must be capable of presenting information which reflects the users' cultural preferences, such as language and conventions, and allow users to interact with the software according to their preference. One way to account for different language and conventions is to customize software for a specific market, such as a geographical region or country. Such customized software is relatively inflexible in allowing users to alter the cultural or language preference of the software to meet particular needs. Therefore, in order to market software internationally, significant expense may be incurred in customizing the software for each individual international market and providing technical support and updates.

Great effort has been expended to make software “internationalized”, which means the software may be easily and readily adapted to different languages and cultures. An internationalized application program has no built-in assumptions with respect to the cultural preference of its users or the data it is to process or present. Rather, it allows the user to specify the language or conventions of the information used to interact with the application and the language or conventions in which the information is presented by the application.

The establishment of ISO/IEC 9945-1:1990 (IEEE Standard 1003.2-1990) Information Technology-Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX™) Shell and Utilities provided a vehicle for the development of portable applications. IEEE Standard 1003.1 describes a set of basic system services for input/output, file system access, and process management to be used in the development of application programs. The standard also defines an interface accessible from the C programming language, which provides access to these services and establishes standard semantics and syntax. This interface allows application program developers to write portable applications in the C programming language.

In compliance with IEEE Standard 1003.1, IEEE Standard 1003.2 was developed to facilitate the internationalization of applications which did not require the application program developer to customize the application program for each cultural market. IEEE Standard 1003.2 defines a source code level interface to shell services and common utilities which is independent of IEEE Standard 1003.1. An extension of this standard is the User Portability Extension (UPE) (IEEE Standard 1003.2a) that addresses interactive terminal-oriented utilities such as full screen editors.

The IEEE Standards 1003.2 and 1003.2a are based on a “locale” model which provides the binding methodology for combining user preferences for language and conventions with the functions of the internationalized application program at run-time. The locale model describes the user's language or conventions to the application program and conveys it to the application program at run-time so that the data is processed and presented correctly according to the needs of the user. Locale objects are typically packaged with software to provide the needed support for different locales.

Some software includes a great number of different locale objects. For example, the C/C++ Run-Time Library for the z/OS operating system developed by IBM ships with over 2,000 different locale objects. Building and maintaining such a large number of locale objects requires significant cost and resources, especially when typical computing environments will only need a few locale objects.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Locale objects are dynamically built from locale source files when requested at run-time. When a locale object is dynamically built, it is stored in global memory so it may be read by multiple applications. Dynamically building locale objects when requested allows software to operate with a relatively small number of locale objects instead of with hundreds or thousands of locale objects, as is known in the art. The result is significant savings in system-wide resources while still allowing for access to a large number of possible locales.

The foregoing and other features and advantages will be apparent from the following more particular description, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, where like designations denote like elements, and:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus that includes a dynamic locale object builder;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example prior art locale object;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a prior art operating system showing locale objects packaged with operating system code;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a prior art method for building locale objects and packaging the locale objects with the operating system code;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a prior art system showing building of locale objects for packaging with operating system code during the manufacturing of the operating system;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of prior art method for installing the prior art operating system shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a prior art method for loading a locale object into the memory of a calling computer program and accessing subsections of the locale object as needed;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an operating system packaged with a master character map and locale source files;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a method for packaging the master character map and locale source files with operating system code as shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a method for installing the operating system shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a method for dynamically building a locale object when requested;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a system for dynamically building locale objects at run-time; and

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of a method for pre-loading a small defined set of locale objects on system boot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described in the Background Art section above, a “locale” model provides the methodology for combining user preferences for language and conventions with the functions of an internationalized application program at run-time. The locale model defines six categories of cultural variables, which are collectively referred to as “locale categories”: (1) character attributes and mappings; (2) character collation; (3) monetary formatting; (4) numeric data formatting; (5) date and time formatting; and (6) messages. Values are specified for each of the locale categories which particularizes the type of formatting to be applied to the data to be processed or presented. For example, possible values for the locale category “monetary formatting” would be United States (dollar), Japan (yen), etc. which would result in the monetary data being formatted to be processed or presented according to the currency of the specified country. When the six locale categories are assigned specific values, they are collectively referred to as a “locale”. The locale categories are referenced by the application program as the application program is executed. One known locale object 210 shown in FIG. 2 is suitable for use with programs written in the C/C++ programming language. Locale object 210 includes a category LC_CTYPE 220 that provides information relating to character classification and case conversion. A category LC_COLLATE 230 provides information relating to collation order. A category LC_MONETARY 240 provides information relating to monetary formatting. A category LC_NUMERIC 250 provides information relating to numeric, non-monetary formatting. A category LC_TIME 260 provides information relating to date and time formats. A category LC_MESSAGES 270 provides information relating to formats of informative and diagnostic messages and interactive responses. Once the locale object 210 is loaded into the memory of a software application that needs information in the locale object 210, the software application may invoke any of the categories in the locale object as needed. Because the prior art locale object 210 is well-known in the art, additions details of the prior art locale object 210 are not included here. One specific example for prior art locale object 210 is a Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX) locale object.

Referring to FIG. 3, a prior art operating system 300 is shown, which includes operating system code 310 and locale objects 320. The operating system code 310 may include any suitable operating system code or function. Other features of operating system 300 not specifically shown in FIG. 3 are presumed to be present in the operating system code 310. The representation in FIG. 3 simply shows an operating system 300 shipped to a customer for installation on a computer system typically includes multiple locale objects 320. Individual locale objects 330 are shown in FIG. 3 as locale S 330A, locale T 330B, . . . , locale X 330N.

FIG. 4 shows a prior art method 400 for building locale objects and packaging locale objects with operating system code. A locale source file is selected (step 410). A locale source file as known in the art is a file that includes text for each of the six locale categories shown in FIG. 2, which uniquely define a set of cultural and linguistic standards or preferences. A locale source file must be processed by a locale object builder to build a locale object. Returning to FIG. 4, a character map is selected (step 420). A locale object is then built from the selected locale source file and the selected character map (step 430). When there are more locale source files to process (step 440=YES), method 400 loops back to step 410 and continues. When there are no more locale source files to process (step 440=NO), all of the locale objects created in steps 410-440 are packaged with the operating system code (step 450), with the result as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a system 500 for performing method 400 in FIG. 4. A locale object builder 550 builds locale objects 320, shown in FIG. 5 as locale S 330A, locale T 330B, . . . , locale X 330N from character maps 510 and locale source files 530. Thus, locale object 330 could be built by the locale object builder 550 from charmap A 520A and locale source file M 540B. Locale object 330B could be built from charmap K 520N and locale source file L 540A. Because the locale objects 320 are packaged with the operating system code as shown in FIG. 3, the locale object builder 550 is run at the factory where the operating system is manufactured. Thus, prior art system 500 is part of the operating system manufacturing process, and is not performed at run-time of the operating system.

Prior art method 600 in FIG. 6 is a method that shows what happens when the operating system 300 shown in FIG. 3 is initially installed on a computer system. First, the operating system code is installed (step 610). All of the locale objects packaged with the operating system are then stored into the file system of the operating system (step 620). Method 600 is then done. Many operating systems and applications may include a large number of locale objects, hundreds or even thousands. As stated above in the Background Art section, C/C++ Run-Time Library for the z/OS operating system developed by IBM ships with over 2,000 different locale objects. Practical experience shows that most operating system installations will need fewer than ten locales, with some needing only a few. Yet all of the locales packaged with the operating system, even hundreds or thousands of locales, are stored into the file system of the operating system in step 620. Storing thousands of locales in the file system when only a few are needed results in a substantial waste of system resources in the file system.

As shown in FIG. 7, once the operating system is loaded and running, a locale for the operating system may be set by invoking the setLocale( ) function (step 710). The setLocale( ) function is typically invoked by an application that needs locale information. The requested locale object is loaded into the memory of the application that invoked the setLocale( ) function (the “caller's memory”) (step 720), and the calling application calls the subsections of the locale object as needed (step 730). Method 700 is then done. Because the locale object is loaded into the memory of the calling application in step 720, when ten different applications are running that all need to access the same locale object, the result will be the replication of the locale object ten times in the memory of each calling application. Note the terminology herein for step 730 is that an application “calls” subsections of the locale object, which is consistent with how locale objects are discussed in the prior art. However, locale objects are text-like files that provide locale information, and normally there is no executable code in a locale object. For this reason, when an application calls, invokes or references a subsection of a locale object, the application is simply reading text information from the subsection of the locale object, and is not calling executable code.

Pre-building hundreds or thousands of locale objects and packaging those hundreds or thousands of locale objects with an operating system or application requires substantial effort and resources to both generate and maintain the operating system or application. This is further exacerbated by the fact that one locale source file may be used to build multiple locale objects. For example, one locale source file could be used with an American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) character map to build a first locale object. The same locale source file could be used with an Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC) character map to build a second locale object. The same locale source file could be used with a UNICODE character map to build a third locale object. This simple example illustrates how a computer program can have hundreds or thousands of locale objects that are built from a much smaller set of locale source files.

The claims and disclosure herein provide a way to dynamically build locale objects from locale source files when requested at run-time. When a locale object is dynamically built, it is stored in global memory so it may be read by multiple applications. Dynamically building locale objects when requested allows software to operate with a relatively small number of locale objects instead of with hundreds or thousands of locale objects, as is known in the art. The result is significant savings in system-wide resources while still allowing for access to a large number of possible locales.

Referring to FIG. 1, a computer system 100 is one suitable implementation of a server computer system that includes a dynamic locale object builder. Server computer system 100 is an IBM zEnterprise System computer system. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosure herein applies equally to any computer system, regardless of whether the computer system is a complicated multi-user computing apparatus, a single user workstation, or an embedded control system. As shown in FIG. 1, computer system 100 comprises one or more processors 110, a main memory 120, a mass storage interface 130, a display interface 140, and a network interface 150. These system components are interconnected through the use of a system bus 160. Mass storage interface 130 is used to connect mass storage devices, such as local mass storage device 155, to computer system 100. One specific type of local mass storage device 155 is a readable and writable CD-RW drive, which may store data to and read data from a CD-RW 195.

Main memory 120 preferably contains data 121, an operating system 122, global memory 127, and one or more applications 129. Data 121 represents any data that serves as input to or output from any program in computer system 100. Operating system 122 is a multitasking operating system. Operating system 122 includes a master character map 123, locale source files 124, and a dynamic locale object builder 125. One suitable implementation of the master character map 123 is a master character map based on Unicode because Unicode is a superset of all other encodings. This allows other character maps to be dynamically generated from the master character map 123 as needed. The dynamic locale object builder 125 receives requests from applications 129 at run-time, and in response, identifies a needed character map and one of the locale source files, generates the needed character map from the master character map 123, then dynamically builds at least one of the locale objects 128 from the generated character map and locale source file. The locale objects 128 are stored in global memory 127, which means memory that can be read by multiple applications. The locale objects 128 have a structure defined by the locale source file used to build each locale object. In one specific implementation, the locale source files 124 and the locale objects 128 have the same categories shown in the prior art locale object 210 shown in FIG. 2.

Computer system 100 utilizes well known virtual addressing mechanisms that allow the programs of computer system 100 to behave as if they only have access to a large, contiguous address space instead of access to multiple, smaller storage entities such as main memory 120 and local mass storage device 155. Therefore, while data 121, operating system 122, global memory 127, and applications 129 are shown to reside in main memory 120, those skilled in the art will recognize that these items are not necessarily all completely contained in main memory 120 at the same time. It should also be noted that the term “memory” is used herein generically to refer to the entire virtual memory of computer system 100, and may include the virtual memory of other computer systems coupled to computer system 100.

Processor 110 may be constructed from one or more microprocessors and/or integrated circuits. Processor 110 executes program instructions stored in main memory 120. Main memory 120 stores programs and data that processor 110 may access. When computer system 100 starts up, processor 110 initially executes the program instructions that make up operating system 122. Processor 110 also executes the dynamic locale object builder 125 in operating system 122.

Although computer system 100 is shown to contain only a single processor and a single system bus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a dynamic locale object builder may be practiced using a computer system that has multiple processors and/or multiple buses. In addition, the interfaces that are used preferably each include separate, fully programmed microprocessors that are used to off-load compute-intensive processing from processor 110. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that these functions may be performed using I/O adapters as well.

Display interface 140 is used to directly connect one or more displays 165 to computer system 100. These displays 165, which may be non-intelligent (i.e., dumb) terminals or fully programmable workstations, are used to provide system administrators and users the ability to communicate with computer system 100. Note, however, that while display interface 140 is provided to support communication with one or more displays 165, computer system 100 does not necessarily require a display 165, because all needed interaction with users and other processes may occur via network interface 150.

Network interface 150 is used to connect computer system 100 to other computer systems or workstations 175 via network 170. Network interface 150 broadly represents any suitable way to interconnect electronic devices, regardless of whether the network 170 comprises present-day analog and/or digital techniques or via some networking mechanism of the future. Network interface 150 preferably includes a combination of hardware and software that allow communicating on the network 170. Software in the network interface 150 preferably includes a communication manager that manages communication with other computer systems 175 via network 170 using a suitable network protocol. Many different network protocols can be used to implement a network. These protocols are specialized computer programs that allow computers to communicate across a network. TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is an example of a suitable network protocol that may be used by the communication manager within the network interface 150.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

Referring to FIG. 8, the operating system 122 includes operating system code 810 packaged with the master character map 123 and locale source files 124. The operating system code 810 could be the same as prior art operating system code 310 shown in FIG. 3, or could be different code. The master character map 123 is preferably a single character map from which all other needed character maps may be generated. The locale source files 124 could be the same as the locale source files 530 shown in FIG. 5, or could be different than the prior art locale source files 530. Locale source files 124 include multiple individual locale source files 830, shown in FIG. 8 as 830A, 830B, . . . , 830N. The locale source files 124 can have any suitable configuration, including the categories in prior art locale object 200 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 9 shows a method 900 that packages the master character map and locale source files with the operating system code (step 910). By packaging the master character map 123 and locale source files 124 with the operating system code 810 as shown in FIG. 8, locale objects may be dynamically built at run-time as described in detail below.

A method 1000 in FIG. 10 is performed when the operating system is initially installed on a computer system. The operating system code is installed (step 1010). The master character map and locale source files that were packaged with the operating system are then stored into the file system (step 1020). Method 1000 is then done. Because the number of locale source files is significantly less than the number of locale objects, and because the only character map packaged with the operating system is the master character map 123, the result is a reduction in the size of the operating system 122 when compared to prior art operating system 300 shown in FIG. 3. This makes the operating system 122 easier to create and maintain.

Referring to FIG. 11, a method 1100 is performed when an application program invokes the setLocale( ) function in the operating system (step 1110) to gain access to locale information. If the requested locale is not already built (step 1120=NO), the locale source file corresponding to the requested locale object is identified (step 1130). The needed character map is dynamically generated from the master character map (step 1135). The requested locale object is then dynamically built from the generated character map and the identified locale source file (step 1140). The locale object is then loaded into global memory (step 1150). As discussed above, the term “global memory” as used herein means memory that can be read by multiple application programs. By loading the requested locale object into global memory, the requested locale object may be read by all applications that need access to it, thereby reducing the memory space needed to store locale objects. A reference to the locale object is then returned to the requesting application (step 1160), which references subsections of the locale object as needed (step 1170). Method 1100 is then done.

Referring to FIG. 12, a system 1200 illustrates the building of locale objects at run-time. The dynamic locale object builder 125 functions in accordance with locale requests received from applications. When a locale request is received by the dynamic locale object builder 125, the appropriate character map is generated from the master character map 123, the appropriate locale source file is identified, and the character map and local source file are used to dynamically build a corresponding locale object 128. Individual locale objects are shown in FIG. 12 as locale S 1210A, locale T 1210B, . . . , locale X 1210N. Note that system 1200 in FIG. 12 is similar in some respects to prior art system 500 shown in FIG. 5. However, the differences are significant. Prior art system 500 in FIG. 5 builds locale objects at the location where the operating system is being manufactured, not where the operating system runs at the customer site. System 1200 in FIG. 12 dynamically builds locale objects as needed at run-time. Prior art system 500 builds locale objects upon command by a human operator. System 1200 builds locale objects when they are requested at run-time by an application. Prior art system 500 builds locale objects from a human operator selecting a character map and a locale source file. System 1200 builds local objects dynamically from a character map dynamically generated from a master character map, and from a locale source file specified in a call from an application. By dynamically building locale objects as needed at run-time, the number of locale objects shipped with the operating system is vastly reduced, while still providing the flexibility to use any locale object when needed.

In one particular implementation, at initial program load (system boot), the operating system has no locale objects and must build the needed locale objects. One way to accomplish this is shown in method 1100 in FIG. 11, building one locale object at a time as requested by an application. In an alternative implementation, the operating system could build a small defined set of locale objects when the operating system starts up, thereby eliminating the need to dynamically build the locale objects in the small defined set when requested by an application. Such an implementation is shown in method 1300 in FIG. 13. Method 1300 begins at system boot (step 1310). A small defined set of locale objects is determined (step 1320). The defined set of objects could be stored, for example, in a database table or other data structure. If all of the locale objects in the small defined set already exist (step 1330=YES), method 1300 is done. The locale objects in the small defined set may already exist, for example, when the locale objects are persisted. When the locale objects in the small defined set do not already exist (step 1330=NO), the small defined set of locale objects is dynamically built (step 1340). Method 1300 is then done. Note that method 1300 in FIG. 13 could be used in conjunction with method 1100 in FIG. 11. A simple example will illustrate. Let's assume locale objects are not persisted in a computer system that is initialized. With this assumption, the system boots in step 1310, the small defined set of locale objects are determined in step 1320, and because these locale objects do not already exist (because they are not persisted) (step 1330=NO), they are dynamically built (step 1340). Method 1100 could then be performed to dynamically build any other needed locale objects when requested by an application. Method 1300 thus adds flexibility in allowing locale objects to be built when an operating system starts up.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

While a POSIX locale object is shown in FIG. 2, the disclosure and claims herein expressly extend to any type of locale source file and locale object, whether currently known or developed in the future. In addition, while the examples in this disclosure (such as shown in FIG. 8) show an operating system packaged with a master character map and locale source files, this is by way of example. Any suitable computer program could be packaged with character maps and locale source files so the dynamic locale object builder can build locale objects dynamically at run-time. The disclosure and claims herein thus expressly extend to a dynamic locale object builder in any type of software, whether currently known or developed in the future. In addition, instead of using a master character map 123 to generate needed character maps at run-time, prior art character maps, such as those shown in FIG. 5, could also be used.

The claims and disclosure herein provide a way to dynamically build locale objects from locale source files when requested at run-time. When a locale object is dynamically built, it is stored in global memory so it may be read by multiple applications. Dynamically building locale objects when requested allows software to operate with a relatively small number of locale objects instead of with hundreds or thousands of locale objects, as is known in the art. The result is significant savings in system-wide resources while still allowing for access to a large number of possible locales.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations are possible within the scope of the claims. Thus, while the disclosure is particularly shown and described above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; a memory coupled to the at least one processor; a master character map residing in the memory; an operating system residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor; a software application residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor under control of the operating system; a plurality of locale source files residing in the memory; and a dynamic locale object builder residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the dynamic locale object builder receiving a request for a locale object from the software application at run-time, and in response to the request for the locale object from the software application at run-time, the dynamic locale object builder generating an identified character map from the master character map, identifying at least one of the plurality of locale source files corresponding to the requested locale object, dynamically building the requested locale object from the identified character map and from the identified at least one locale source file, loading the requested locale object into the memory, and returning to the software application a reference to the requested locale object; wherein each of the plurality of locale source files includes a plurality of subsections and the requested locale object includes the plurality of subsections; and wherein the software application references the plurality of subsections in the requested locale object as needed.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of subsections includes: a first subsection that includes information relating to character classification and case conversion; a second subsection that includes information relating to collation order; a third subsection that includes information relating to monetary formatting; a fourth subsection that includes information relating to numeric, non-monetary formatting; a fifth subsection that includes information relating to date and time formats; and a sixth subsection that includes information relating to formats of informative and diagnostic messages and interactive responses.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dynamic locale object builder loads the locale object into global memory that may be read by a plurality of software applications.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dynamic locale object builder builds a defined set of locale objects at system boot of the apparatus.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dynamic locale object builder determines when the requested locale object has already been built, and does not build the requested locale object when the requested locale object has already been built.
 6. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; a memory coupled to the at least one processor; a master character map residing in the memory; a plurality of locale source files residing in the memory, each of the plurality of locale source files including: a first subsection that includes information relating to character classification and case conversion; a second subsection that includes information relating to collation order; a third subsection that includes information relating to monetary formatting; a fourth subsection that includes information relating to numeric, non-monetary formatting; a fifth subsection that includes information relating to date and time formats; and a sixth subsection that includes information relating to formats of informative and diagnostic messages and interactive responses; a dynamic locale object builder residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the dynamic locale object builder receiving a request for a locale object from a software application at run-time, determining when the requested locale object has already been built, and when the requested locale object has already been built, loading the requested locale object and returning to the software application a reference to the requested locale object, and when the requested locale object has not already been built, the dynamic locale object builder generates an identified character map from the master character map, identifies at least one of the plurality of locale source files corresponding to the requested locale object, dynamically builds the requested locale object from the identified character map and from the identified at least one locale source file, loads the requested locale object into global memory that may be read by a plurality of software applications, and returns to the software application the reference to the requested locale object, wherein the requested locale object includes: the first subsection that includes information relating to character classification and case conversion; the second subsection that includes information relating to collation order; the third subsection that includes information relating to monetary formatting; the fourth subsection that includes information relating to numeric, non-monetary formatting; the fifth subsection that includes information relating to date and time formats; and the sixth subsection that includes information relating to formats of informative and diagnostic messages and interactive responses; wherein the software application references the plurality of subsections in the requested locale object as needed; and wherein the dynamic locale object builder builds a defined set of locale objects at system boot of the apparatus.
 7. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; a memory coupled to the at least one processor; a master character map residing in the memory; an operating system residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor; a software application residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor under control of the operating system; a plurality of locale source files residing in the memory; and a dynamic locale object builder residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the dynamic locale object builder receiving a request for a locale object from the software application at run-time, and in response to the request for the locale object from the software application at run-time, the dynamic locale object builder generating an identified character map from the master character map, identifying at least one of the plurality of locale source files corresponding to the requested locale object, dynamically building the requested locale object from the identified character map and from the identified at least one locale source file, loading the requested locale object into the memory, and returning to the software application a reference to the requested locale object; wherein the dynamic locale object builder builds a defined set of locale objects at system boot of the apparatus; and wherein the dynamic locale object builder determines when the requested locale object has already been built, and does not build the requested locale object when the requested locale object has already been built.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of the plurality of locale source files includes a plurality of subsections and the requested locale object includes the plurality of subsections.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the software application references the plurality of subsections in the requested locale object as needed.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the plurality of subsections includes: a first subsection that includes information relating to character classification and case conversion; a second subsection that includes information relating to collation order; a third subsection that includes information relating to monetary formatting; a fourth subsection that includes information relating to numeric, non-monetary formatting; a fifth subsection that includes information relating to date and time formats; and a sixth subsection that includes information relating to formats of informative and diagnostic messages and interactive responses.
 11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the dynamic locale object builder loads the locale object into global memory that may be read by a plurality of software applications. 